May 2011 - Posts

• What Encryption Algorithms Are You Using?

  Security is an important consideration when designing a database application. Who can get access to what data? How much damage can someone do if they get at your data? In SQL Server 2005 Microsoft implemented column-based encryption, and in SQL Server Read More... Posted Tuesday, May 31, 2011 1:04 PM by AllenMWhite | 0 Comments Filed under: SMO, PowerShell, Database Administration

• Endpoints Need Privileges Too

  Yesterday I delivered a session for the PASS DBA Virtual Chapter on Service Broker. In preparing for the session I was having trouble with my demo environment. Since early this year, after I upgraded my laptop to a Lenovo W510 with 10GB RAM, I've been Read More... Posted Thursday, May 26, 2011 5:16 PM by AllenMWhite | 0 Comments Filed under: Database Administration, SQL Server 2008, Service Broker

• Monitor your SQL Server Agent Proxies Using PowerShell

  Over time it's easy to lose track of the things you set up to get work done. As a consultant, I have to discover what's set up on a client system. In either case, it's important to know what security settings are in place to know if they're appropriate Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 25, 2011 10:40 AM by AllenMWhite | 0 Comments Filed under: SMO, PowerShell, Database Administration

• [Speaking] Let Service Broker Help You Scale Your Application

  I'll be presenting at tomorrow's PASS DBA Virtual Chapter. Here's the abstract: How your business applications interact with the corporate database directly can have a dramatic impact on how successful you are, and one of the biggest issues is performance Read More... Posted Tuesday, May 24, 2011 12:09 PM by AllenMWhite | 1 Comments Filed under: User Group Meetings, Speaking, Service Broker Attachment(s): ScaleYourApplicationsWithServiceBroker.zip

• Find your Enabled SQL Server Network Protocols Using PowerShell

  Another quick check I like to do when in 'discovery mode' on a client system is to see what network protocols are enabled. Those of us around in 2003 will remember well the headaches caused by the SQL Slammer virus, and know to shut down Named Pipes unless Read More... Posted Saturday, May 21, 2011 4:38 PM by AllenMWhite | 1 Comments Filed under: SMO, PowerShell, Database Administration

• Quickly Find Your DDL Triggers with PowerShell

  As a consultant I spend much of the first day or two at a client site discovering everything I can about their servers, before I start planning the engagement. You can find DDL triggers by going into the Object Explorer in Management Studio, open up each Read More... Posted Friday, May 20, 2011 9:55 AM by AllenMWhite | 2 Comments Filed under: SMO, PowerShell

• Change SQL Servers Authentication Mode with PowerShell

  Lately I've been working on scripts to check and set security and configuration settings for SQL Server using PowerShell. One of the settings that I normally set and forget at install time is the Authentication Mode setting. Best practices suggest that Read More... Posted Thursday, May 19, 2011 5:22 PM by AllenMWhite | 6 Comments Filed under: SMO, PowerShell, Database Administration, SQL Server 2008

• PASS Summit Session Selection is Open

  This year the Program Committee decided to open up the selection process to the community. I'm anxious to see how well this is received, since it'll be the people who are actively online and aware of the process who'll influence the sessions that are Read More... Posted Wednesday, May 11, 2011 11:08 AM by AllenMWhite | 0 Comments Filed under: User Group Meetings, Speaking